Monthly Archives: September 2020

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PPC Strategies: COVID-19 Search Trends

Due to COVID-19, people around the globe are wondering what the new “normal” will look like. Everything from the economy to consumer behavior has witnessed drastic changes. People are looking to buy their products online to avoid getting or spreading the virus.

Just within the first week of quarantine, screen time shot up 33% ! Now is definitely the time for business owners to get creative and move their marketing efforts toward the internet. The search landscape has changed across almost all industries. However, here are four industries that should definitely be taking advantage of the current situation with PPC campaigns:

Travel

It’s no surprise that travel continues to be an industry facing major challenges during the global pandemic. Search volumes related to flights, hotels, and other related subjects have decreased by 90% over one year. Consumers are hesitant to travel due to the shelter-in-place restrictions and 2-week self-quarantining required after traveling internationally.

However, now more than ever people are searching for things they can do close to home. This is the perfect time to focus your ad dollars on regional and local areas since many other travel services already have.

If your business is dependent on international travel, there are still ways to keep your business relevant. Jet2 sent out an email campaign asking what their customers were looking forward to most after the pandemic ends. The responses were:

  • 53% beach lazing.
  • 15% uncovering culture.
  • 12% cuisine tasting.
  • 8% getting active.
  • 8% experiencing nightlife.
  • 4% souvenir shopping.

Although this email poll doesn’t give Jet2 immediate sales, they now know that beachy destinations should be a large portion of their future online marketing efforts.

Marriott Hotel and Resorts went another direction with their marketing by pulling on heart strings. They went to social media to show that they are still here for their customers during the shut downs.

 

instagram post from marriott

 

Even if sales are not through the roof it is important to keep your name in the game through ads and social media!

Retail

Retail has been one of the stronger industries during the global pandemic. However, growth has massively shifted from in-person to online shopping. At-home beauty products ranging from hair dye to press on nail searches are up year over year.

There has been a 36% increase in searches around hair dyes and coloring and a 118% increase in clicks. Simultaneously, the personal grooming category has seen a 79% increase in searches and a 146% increase in clicks.

Hobby stores are also experiencing an increase in searches. There is unmet consumer interest as growth in searches outpaces the click growth for hobby-related queries. This includes genealogy, arts and crafts, birding, outdoor recreation activities, camping, gardening, cooking, model building, and home brewing.

Running a PPC campaign will ensure that your retail store shows up for customers who are in need of products like yours.

Automotive

With everyone working from home the need for a new car was brought to a grinding halt. However, in-market purchase queries increased in March, despite the shopping patterns and search themes shifting.

With job security up in the air, most people are hesitant to buy such an expensive item. That being said, search terms are showing that as people adapt to the “new” way of life they are taking advantage of the time-limited offers that dealerships and auto-related industries are offering.

A few trends that Search Engine Journal has seen include:

  • Consumers are trying to understand which dealerships are open versus closed due to varying policies related to “essential” businesses. Creating clarity for your customers is increasingly important, especially if you are open today.
  • Shoppers are increasingly looking for dealers, dealerships, and specific models “near me”, with these types of queries up 22% in the last 30 days over the previous 30 days.
  • Shoppers are looking for “affordable” vehicles, with affordable related queries up 85% year to date.
  • Leasing queries are up 51% in the last 30 days over the previous 30 days – indicating the consumers are looking for more affordable payments.

Car sales aside, automotive insurance searches are up 44%. The spike in searches is caused by consumers who are searching to lower their insurance premiums. This may seem bad for business, however, now is the perfect time to adapt and begin a PPC campaign and feature limited time coverage specials on your site.

We recommend bidding on terms related to quote comparisons, affordable policies, and pay-per-mile insurance.

Health and Wellness

With a global pandemic in motion, it’s no surprise that health and wellness is a popular topic. Searches related to the coronavirus symptoms, vaccines, and treatments are up year over year.

There was also an increase in searches related to masks, sanitizer, and disinfectants. Searches for the flu vaccine increased 478% year over year with nearly 21% of searches containing a coronavirus related term in the query.

As the months of quarantine stretch on, the searches around depression have increased 3X and anxiety 2X. With emotions running high, it’s the perfect time to get your wellness brand or product out for everyone to see. A PPC campaign can ensure that people who are searching for advice or a similar service will see your site on Google.

Do you need assistance with your PPC campaign? Get in contact with us today. SeoTuners can offer an affordable solution for your business to increase exposure and SERP rankings with organic SEO strategies like keywords. We’re confident we have a solution for all your marketing needs. 

COVID-19 & SEO: Why SEO Is More Important Now Than Ever

This entry was posted in Local, SEO on by .

Many countries remain immobile under the threat of the pandemic that’s swept through the entire world. It’s going to take a long time before most of us see things go back to normal, if they ever will. Meanwhile, we’re all about setting new rules, especially in business environments. COVID-19 has led to numerous changes, impacting companies everywhere, along with their processes. If you’re wondering whether it’s a good time to finally give search engine optimization services a try, here’s why the answer’s a resounding yes.

Long Term Gains

Traditional marketing channels have a short shelf life. However, SEO campaigns can provide benefits to your firm and contribute to your bottom line for years. For instance, a campaign may still generate traffic to your site years later. That long-term gain means that whatever you pay for SEO services is ultimately more than worth it.

Site Traffic

Maybe you’ve operated your business for years without SEO. Maybe that worked. But given the current situation, where people are advised to stay home, a shop or store that relies on onsite foot traffic might be at a huge disadvantage. That’s where SEO campaigns come in. They help drive traffic to your pages, so not only will customers have an easier finding you online, that also means even if your foot traffic is low, your site traffic can grow with so much ease.

More Sales

With a team of SEO experts to boost your local search results, you can count on more sales coming through on that end. With the way the pandemic has put a stop to onsite shopping, having a team to drive traffic to your pages impacts your bottom line and revenue positively. As online consumption grows, you can count on your sales to increase. That’s one way to keep your business thriving in the midst of a global pandemic. Your SEO campaigns will continue to drive traffic to your site pages, so you won’t have to worry about sales not coming in.

Low Cost

Compared to traditional advertising and marketing, SEO is much more affordable. Companies used to set aside hundreds to millions for their marketing spend and not see as much of the traffic that SEO has the potential to generate. Also, factor in the long-term gains and search engine optimization services become even more budget friendly. With enough research, finding a trusted firm that offers affordable SEO services shouldn’t be all too difficult. In a time when the pandemic is forcing many businesses to close down, having the means to continue running your operations, and saving up on costs with SEO is a godsend.

Scalability

SEO is one of the highest ROI marketing channels for companies worldwide. That’s incredibly important in the current tight economic conditions brought on by the pandemic. With SEO, you can scale up your visitors without the need to shell out large sums of money. You can expand your consumer base easily by working with a team of SEO experts. They know what to do to get people to your site and encourage leads and sales.

Affordable SEO Services: How Not to Burn Your Pocket

This entry was posted in Advertising, Marketing, SEO on by .

Search engine optimization is an essential tool for businesses everywhere. If you’re starting out or launching a business online, or you already run a business and are just launching your online presence, then you’ll need to invest in these services. The SEO market is a highly competitive one, though, with agencies that could charge you up to $2,000 per month or even more. If you want to find affordable SEO services, here are a few suggestions to help you.

Start with Referrals

Reach out to your contacts in the industry. Most businesses have already gone online, so you probably already know some people who’ve hired SEO services for their businesses. Ask them for hiring advice. At the very least, they can send you tips on which firms didn’t make their list and why. Even if their suggestions don’t pan out, you’ll get an idea of what to look for and where to start.

Look for Local Options

More and more companies are taking advantage of Google My Business, which boosts their local SEO search. That means when you search for SEO services online, the ones nearest to you will pop up. The proximity means that the firm is familiar with the local consumer market and knows just how to market your products or services to this audience, ensuring successful results.

Do Your Homework

Browse around. Check out companies that offer reasonable low-cost rates. A bit of homework and research will get you the information you need. List down your options. Have detailed notes. Being organized about your search will help you find the best options in the market with greater ease.

Skip the Cheapest Option

That doesn’t mean you should go for the cheapest option you can find, though. Affordable options don’t automatically mean the lowest rates that you’ll find. Suspiciously low rates might be an indication that the firm offers substandard work. However, it’s still best to check that out and confirm the information for yourself. Don’t dismiss anything until you’ve taken a thorough look at the firm to confirm your suspicions.

Go for a Package

Instead of just hiring the firm to set up your pages, why don’t you hire the same team to update your content, to generate updates, fix your pages to ensure compliance, and more? This is a cost-saving measure in the long run. If you intend to let your in-house staff handle the social media sites, that’s already a full-time job. Hiring an SEO firm means you can count on the company to handle not just your social media pages but also your digital marketing campaigns.

Know What’s Covered

When you check out options, make sure you’re well aware of what each of the packages cover. What services are included? Don’t assume that all the services you need are available. Talk to the firm about that. Go over the issue in depth, so you’ll know if the service package offers everything you need or if you’ll need to pay extra if you want those services added to the list.

 

Local SEO Complete Guide: Choose the Best Local SEO Package

This entry was posted in Advertising, Local, Marketing, SEO on by .

To get the best possible results, you’ll need to look for the right service provider. With a lot of SEO firms out there promising to deliver on a ton of promises, it can be quite difficult to touch on which option is the best one for your business. No worries, though. Browse through the local SEO packages all while keeping the following tips in mind.

Specialties

Some companies specialize in certain industries. If that’s the case, the firm might be a good match for you, especially if you and the company’s past clients work in the same industry. At least you know that the firm is already aware of what it takes to cater to clients in the same industry.

Services

What services are included in the package? That’s an important question. When you hire a service provider, you want to make sure the company offers the SEO assistance you need. A clear idea of what the packages cover and don’t will help you decide if you’ve found the right firm or if you should keep looking for an SEO team. Ask the firm about offering services that aren’t covered, too.

Reviews

What do other employees say about the firm? Are there a lot of negative reviews? A complaint or two isn’t uncommon. But if there are too many complaints and if there are even official complaints lodged against the firm, it’s best that you steer clear of the company and check out better, more reliable options in the market. Likewise, if there are only positive reviews and the word choice, the sentence structure and more feel the same, they could have been manipulated. Be careful about that, too. Watch out for these when you go over the reviews.

References

A firm that’s been in business for years and is profoundly proud of the work its team has done and continue to do so will have no problem handing over a list of references. In fact, you might see many of them on site as testimonials. If a firm can’t hand one over, that’s a telling sign. It could mean that they aren’t as confident in their work, or they have no references. If the company has been around long enough to build a reputation but have zero references, that’s not usual. You might be better off looking for a different service provider.

Portfolio

Take a look at the pages and sites that the firm has worked on. A portfolio allows you to see the scope of what the company is capable of, the services they offer, and the level of quality—that attention to detail—that you can expect when you pick the firm. A word of caution, though: if you didn’t like any of the works in the firm’s portfolio, that’s an indication that you and the firm aren’t a good professional match. Keep in mind that companies tend to put their most impressive works on display in their online portfolios. However, if you didn’t like anything—not one bit—then look for service providers.

man looking at computer

SEO Knowledge Gaps in a Digital World

This entry was posted in Content and tagged , , , , , , on by .

Coronavirus has affected the world unlike anything before, and it’s no surprise that surveys say 82% of small businesses are concerned about the impact of the pandemic. Government restrictions have forced businesses to close their doors or completely change their business models. Much like Darwinism, employers must adapt or face the decision of giving up on their dream.

Although 2020 is known for its technology and online influence, there is still a knowledge gap between millennial and generation X business owners. Obviously, the younger generations have the advantage of being more at ease with search engine optimization and promoting themselves on social media. However, nearly a quarter of business owners today are still either vaguely or not at all familiar with SEO at all.

While some businesses are simply trying to wait out the pandemic, others are choosing instead to evolve and thrive. Business owners are realizing that the internet is their friend and can help them and their business survive the COVID-driven economic crash surrounding them.

Business Owners and SEO

 In a digitally lead world, having an online presence is crucial to success. If your business executes your SEO poorly, you risk becoming like one of those TV shows that airs on an obscure channel in the middle of the night. Even if you have a great show, it will be hard for it to gain a following because you are too hard to find. Similarly, you can have a wonderful business, but if Google does not show your website in their search results, then potential customers will struggle to find out about you.

A survey revealed that nearly a quarter of business owners were only either vaguely or not at all familiar with search engine optimization. Only 25.6% of business owners classed themselves as “very familiar”, with the highest percentage of them falling into the category of “mostly familiar”, at 29.4%.

 Most people report that they don’t scroll past the second page of Google. With 83% of search traffic coming from organic searches and only 17% coming from paid searches, it is apparent that your website must compete for a spot on the first two pages of Google. If your business has a website, an SEO strategy must be implemented to compete in the current online market. 

Knowledge of SEO

As a business owner, you probably have a basic understanding that Google helps drive traffic to your website. However, 1 in 4 business owners and 2 in 5 non-business owners are not familiar with SEO.

graph of results

The positive take away from this is that there is a wealth of opportunity for business owners like you to learn more about SEO, how it can impact your business, and the steps needed to acquire a competitive edge over your main competitors.

Business owners appear to have a marginally better understanding of SEO than non-business owners. But ultimately, the survey reveals that there is plenty of room for both parties to learn more about search engines and SEO. After all, a whopping 4.54 billion people actively use the internet.

SEO Quiz Results 

A recent study of 1000 participants was done to find where the knowledge gap in SEO was most prominent. The survey included an eight-question quiz. Business owners received an average score of 48.7% correct answers, with non-business owners averaging 38.7%. With multiple-choice questions, all survey respondents failed the basic SEO quiz. The questions included:

  • Which best describes organic search?
  • What is alt text?
  • What are backlinks?
  • What is anchor text?
  • Site Speed is an important factor in Google search rankings. True or False?
  • Nofollow links do not impact Google search rankings. True or False?

28.7% of people answered that organic search results were searches directly with a search engine, rather than the correct answer; unpaid search results. Only 33% of participants knew what alt-text was, and 28.6% of them admitted that they didn’t know what backlinks were. Given that organic search and backlinks are considered two of the most critical concepts in SEO, it’s surprising to discover that only about half of the population understands them.

42.9% answered “what is anchor text” correctly, and 55.8% of people knew that site speed is an important factor in Google search rankings. More than half of the respondents chose “I don’t know” for whether or not nofollow links impacted Google search rankings.

infographic of statsBoth business owners and the public were much more familiar with the concept of keywords than they were with other aspects of SEO, like backlinking. This suggests that while people may realize how Google operates on the top level – by typing in keywords and receiving the results that hopefully best match their query – they may not fully understand how Google decides what to rank in those top positions. 

The Meaning 

It’s easy to take for granted how simple it is for you to find the answer to your question in minutes. But understanding how it works, what paid results are, and how authority and trust are built is a harder concept to grasp.

Diving deeper into the importance of SEO is exceptionally more important for business owners. It’s your key to unlocking exposure and staying in the game!

Get in contact with your trusted experts at SeoTuners! We provide a number of search engine optimization services to businesses looking to optimize their website such as branding, e-commerce, Google Local, organic SEO, and Link Building  If you’re interested in improving your website’s search traffic, get in touch with us today. SeoTuners can offer an affordable solution for your business to increase exposure and SERP rankings with organic SEO strategies like keywords. We are confident that we have a solution for all your business marketing needs.